>> Friday, September 22, 2006

I am watching severe weather coverage this evening from ABC 33/40 in Birmingham. It looks like a possibly significant tornado touched down near the community of Oneonta in Blount county....that is a bit northeast of Birmingham.

Click on the live stream link on the right to watch the coverage as long as it continues. This is the television station at which I interned for six years. James Spann and his crew are some of the absolute best at severe weather coverage.

As expected, clouds rolled in last night and are with us as of this typing. Look for lots of clouds today. Some light rain is edging into Cleveland county, and we certainly could see a bit of light rain from time to time today. But, I think most locations remain dry.

How about that low pressure over Iowa!! Pressure at 985mb this morning...that is the pressure most minor hurricanes have. It is a little strange to see such a strong low pressure in September....that is something you wouldn't normally see until much deeper into fall.

Cold front swings through here late Sunday...look for showers and storms to rush through later Sunday afternoon into Sunday night. Cooler air then takes hold by Monday.

Models are coming into pretty good agreement now with another significant trough toward the end of the work for the eastern US. This would mean another good push of cool air in here by Friday and next weekend. Below is from the 6z GFS run today...

I have noticed some leaves beginning to change color around parts of the viewing area...especially in the trees lining the Catawba River. I love the fall foliage season...bring it on! And, Autumn officially arrives just after midnight tonight.

>> Wednesday, September 20, 2006

What a great day! Hard to imagine better weather out there than what we are enjoying today. And, I am sure looking forward to some 40s tonight! I might even give the wood-burning stove a test run tonight....

Cold front will move through late in the weekend and bring us some more showers and storms. But, another push of nice autumn air looks to move in by Tuesday next week.

Some busy times lately, at home and at work. We are entering the final stretch of this pregnancy, and each day seems to bring a lot of preparatory items to be completed. Don't get me wrong....I love every second of it, but blog posting definitely seems to take a back seat on my off days!

At work, the final wrinkles are being ironed out for the rolling out of the Triad edition of News 14 Carolina. This involves a lot of dry runs for everybody from weather through reporters and production staff. Anything from graphics systems 'talking' to each other properly to television monitors being the correct brightness...all kinks are being straightened. Production schedules are being set, and finishing touches are going on graphics. All of this to make sure we hit the gound running in the Triad and make that good first-impression.